[Terrapreta] Fwd: alkaline soils

[Richard Haard]

> Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] alkaline soils
>
> A very nice paper Tom, Thank you
>
> The effect of bio-char on soil buffer pH is of special interest in  
> my project. In the paper you linked, the authors consider the  
> source of the fertilizer nutrients and their individual effect on  
> soil pH and uses in an efficient way to conserve nutrients and to  
> prevent losses to the water table. It is good to see bio-char in  
> this paper simply in a soil additive context.
>
> Since charcoal needs not to be added to the soil on a regular basis  
> then in soils alkaline or not any pH changes would be transient if  
> they are subjected to leaching either by normal rainfall or  
> irrigation. In arid climates where the moisture tends to come to  
> the surface and evaporate then accumulation of salts, especially  
> sodium is a problem because of base replacement. In this situation,  
> I would presume that charcoal in soil would be of no help at all.
>
> In our sandy loam by conducting systematic soil analysis I have  
> learned , since starting my own charcoal study, that our regular  
> use of wood chip based municipal compost has held our soil OM at  
> acceptable levels . In interpreting my soil tests I have come to  
> learn that the percentage of base saturation for K, Mg and Ca and  
> their relative ratios are important values to note, even more than  
> the totals for these values in the same soil analysis set.
>
> Measuring the differences in these values soil pH,  buffer pH, %  
> base saturation, as well as available nitrogen will be interesting  
> measurements during my charcoal addition studies this summer. I  
> will be doing my first set of analysis in my block study late June  
> or early July, giving time for the transplants and seedlings to  
> root into the plots and for soil pH and nutrient levels to stabilize.
>
> I ran across an online course on basic soil science that list  
> readers might find helpful. Here is the link.
>
> http://www.interactive.usask.ca/slsc41/main.html
>
> Interpreting soil tests can be somewhat daunting and I found this  
> OSU link to be helpful
>
>  http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/4000/4028.html
>
> Rich H
>
>
> On May 16, 2007, at 8:24 PM, Tom Miles wrote:
>
>> Even though the inorganic components of some chars may make them  
>> more alkaline can we assume that biochar has a soil- buffering  
>> capacity similar to straws and other organic amendments?
>>
>> See http://terrapreta.bioenergylists.org/avrdcsoilrhizo
>>
>>
>>
>> It should help a soil resist rapid changes in pH.
>>
>>
>>
>> Tom
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> From: terrapreta-bounces at bioenergylists.org [mailto:terrapreta- 
>> bounces at bioenergylists.org] On Behalf Of Michael Bailes
>> Sent: Wednesday, May 16, 2007 7:20 PM
>> To: terrapreta
>> Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] alkaline soils
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On 16/05/07, Christoph Steiner <Christoph.Steiner at uni-bayreuth.de>  
>> wrote:
>>
>> I have my doubts that "Terra Preta" is the solution for all  
>> agricultural
>> constraints.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Yes, of course.but what I like about TP is the way it makes you re- 
>> think traditional soil-science paradimes and makes you question  
>> what you think you know about soil, fertilisers, SOM,etc
>>
>> The pH question is just one. Something strange is happening.
>> As you say little work has been done on alkaline soils and TP
>> (In fact many soil scientists seem to ignore highly alkaline soils  
>> completely )
>>
>> Thanks for you valuable inputs Chris.
>> m
>>
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>

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